Red River Flood Update

As of April 9 the 2011 flood has claimed one life, flooded an unknown number of homes north of Winnipeg and prompted evacuation in the St Andrews area.

Sandbagging in St. Andrews. (Lorraine Nickel - Global Winnipeg)

Saturday RCMP recovery personnel found the body of a61 year old man who was trying to drive across a flooded stretch of rural road in the Rural Municipality of De Salaberry south of Winnipeg.

Also ice jams caused evacuations north of Winnipeg in St. Andrews RM. Ice flowing in the Netley Creek area jammed the area causing water levels to rise sharply prompting the evacuation of about 50 area homes.

Ice conditions in the city of Winnipeg allowed the activation of the floodway which diverts flood water from the Red River around the city. The floodway gates were activated in three stages yesterday to allow city and rural water levels to stabilize and water to back up into the man-made spillway affectionately known as Duff’s Ditch.

A home sits alone in Morris, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade - Reuters)

Also the communities of Ste. Agathe, St. Adolphe and Brunkild are being closed off with protective diking to make sure they stay dry throughout the coming weeks.

Thanks for the concern, rest assured that we are safe and sound in St. Boniface for now. The ground is high here and we are protected by the floodway. However if heavy rains or unexpected overland flooding occurs then we could very well face a repeat of last years basement fiasco.

Yes it is a long few weeks from when the ice breaks up on the rivers to the crest which still hasn’t hit us yet. Think of it as a slow creeping terror one that you know is coming every year, at least you know when and how it will strike, and you can plan.

Thanks for hitting the “Like” Button Mak you must show me how to get the buttons set up like you have them on your site! I love that elegant look.